Shloka 1

Arocaka (Loss of Appetite): Nidāna, Doṣa-Lakṣaṇa, and Doṣaja Vomiting (Chardi) Markers

Devanagari script

द्विपञ्चाशदुत्तरशततमो ऽध्यायः धन्वन्तरिरुदाच / अरोचकनिदान्ते वक्ष्ये ऽहं सुश्रुताधुना / अरोचको भवेद्दोषैर्जिह्वाहृदयसंश्रयैः

Transliteration

dvipañcāśaduttaraśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ dhanvantarirudāca / arocakanidānte vakṣye 'haṃ suśrutādhunā / arocako bhaveddoṣairjihvāhṛdayasaṃśrayaiḥ

Translation

ધન્વંતરીએ કહ્યું—હે સુશ્રુત! હવે હું અરોचक (રુચિહાનિ) ના નિદાન અને લક્ષણો કહું છું. દોષો જ્યારે જિહ્વા અને હૃદયપ્રદેશમાં આશ્રય લે છે, ત્યારે અરોचक થાય છે.

Word by Word

• द्विपञ्चाशदुत्तरशततमः: the 152nd
• द्विपञ्चाशदुत्तरशततमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि-पञ्चाशत्-उत्तर-शत-तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्यासमास-तत्पुरुषः (शतस्य उत्तरः द्विपञ्चाशत्; तस्य तमः)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• धन्वन्तरिः: Dhanvantari
• धन्वन्तरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्वन्तरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उदाच: said/declared
• उदाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अरोचकनिदान्ते: at the end of the section on causes of anorexia
• अरोचकनिदान्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरोचक-निदान-अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अरोचकस्य निदानस्य अन्ते)

• वक्ष्ये: I shall explain
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सुश्रुत: O Suśruta
• सुश्रुत: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा (Vocative/Nominative; contextually संबोधन), एकवचन

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अरोचकः: anorexia/loss of appetite
• अरोचकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरोचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवेत्: may occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• दोषैः: by doṣas (humors)
• दोषैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• जिह्वाहृदयसंश्रयैः: by those (doṣas) lodged in the tongue and heart
• जिह्वाहृदयसंश्रयैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जिह्वा-हृदय-संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जिह्वा-हृदययोः संश्रयः येषां ते); विशेषणम् (दोषैः)

Speaker

Dhanvantari

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Pitta/Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nidāna (etiology) and lakṣaṇa (features) of arocaka are explained; doṣas lodged in tongue and hṛdaya-region disturb appetite and taste.

Vedantic Theme: Mind-body linkage: manas and prāṇa operate within prakṛti; discernment of causes reduces suffering.

Application: Assess loss of appetite by examining tongue, taste, chest/heart-region sensations, and doṣic signs; treat root causes rather than only symptoms.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.152 (preceding doṣa-lakṣaṇa and kṣaya discussion); Garuda Purana 1.153.2 (taste changes and mental factors)

Characters & Entities

• Dhanvantari
• Suśruta
• Doṣas (Vāta, Pitta, Kapha)

FAQs

What is the importance of arocaka (loss of appetite) in Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces Dhanvantari’s Ayurvedic teaching that appetite loss is a doṣa-based disorder, framed through classical nidāna (etiology), making the Garuda Purana a source not only of dharma but also traditional medical guidance.

How does this verse explain the cause of loss of appetite?

It states that arocaka occurs when the doṣas become disturbed and localize in the tongue and the heart-region, disrupting taste, desire for food, and the internal regulation of digestion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat persistent appetite loss as a systemic imbalance rather than only a food preference issue—support digestion and taste function, and seek appropriate Ayurvedic assessment for doṣa involvement.